Mediating effect of symptom severity on the relationship between aggression, impulsivity and quality of life outcomes among patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses.

Aims: Aggression and impulsivity among individuals with schizophrenia have been associated with poor clinical outcomes including worsening of symptoms and substance abuse which have been linked to a lower quality of life (QoL). The current study aimed to look at the mediating effect of symptom severity on the relationship between aggression, impulsivity and QoL among outpatients with schizophrenia and related psychoses in a multi-ethnic Asian population. Methods: Data (n = 397) were collected from outpatients seeking treatment at the Institute of Mental Health. The World Health Organization quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale, the symptoms checklist-90 revised (SCL-90-R), Buss Perry aggression questionnaire (BPAQ), and the Barratt impulsiveness scales (BIS) were used to assess subjective well-being, symptom severity, aggression, and impulsivity, respectively. Mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro to understand the mediating effect of symptom severity. Results: Motor impulsivity (MI) was indirectly associated with both the physical and psychological health domains of QoL while self-control was indirectly associated with the physical, psychological, and environmental health QoL domains through increased symptom severity. Conclusion: The significant indirect effect of symptom severity in our study highlights one potential pathway through which impulsivity impacts the QoL of individuals with schizophrenia and related psychoses. Elucidating other factors besides symptom severity that have an indirect effect on the QoL of individuals provides alternative approaches for treatment through which better clinical outcomes can be achieved.

Validation of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 among older adults in an Asian country.

INTRODUCTION: As populations age globally and the burden of chronic illnesses increases, valid measures of disability are needed for assessment in the older adult population. The aim of the current analysis was to explore the psychometric properties and validity of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) in an epidemiological survey of older adults in Singapore. METHODS: The study comprised secondary data analysis of the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly study. Inclusion criteria for the study were Singapore residents (Singapore citizens and permanent residents) aged 60 years and above. The 12-item interviewer-administered version of the WHODAS 2.0 was used to assess disability in the study. Data on cognition, health status and sociodemographic information were collected. Depression was assessed using the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy. RESULTS: The study found a one-factor model solution for WHODAS 2.0 with a high internal consistency of all items. The internal consistency for the overall scale was 0.92. The WHODAS 2.0 score positively correlated with multimorbidity, perceived overall health status, depression and subsyndromal depression. There was a significant inverse association between the WHODAS 2.0 score and the cognitive status. After adjustment for all sociodemographic variables in the multiple linear regression analysis, these measures remained significantly associated with the WHODAS 2.0 score. CONCLUSION: WHODAS 2.0 was found to be a valid measure of disability among older adults. However, further research is required to determine its usefulness as a responsive instrument that can detect change following interventions.

Caregivers' causal attributions of their relatives' mental illness and the association with stigma.

Causal attributions of mental illness have received substantial attention given their influence on help-seeking patterns of individuals and the level of engagement with health services. Few studies, however, have examined caregivers' perspectives of their relatives' illness. The current study aimed to examine caregivers' causal attributions of their relatives' mental illness and its association with perceived stigma in a multi-ethnic Asian sample. Primary caregivers (N = 350) of psychiatric outpatients were recruited from a psychiatric hospital. The attribution and stigma sections of the Family Interview Schedule (FIS) were utilized to obtain caregivers' causal report of their relatives' illness and stigma perception. Logistic regressions were performed to examine the socio-demographic and diagnostic correlates of the four categories of causal attributions (psychosocial, biological, drug-/substance use-related, supernatural). The majority of caregivers identified psychosocial causes, followed by biological, supernatural, and lastly drug-/substance use-related causes for their relatives' illness. Marital status, religion, employment status and the diagnosis of depressive disorders were significant correlates of biological attributions. Ethnicity and not knowing their relatives' diagnosis were significantly associated with psychosocial attributions. For drug-/substance use-related attributions, ethnicity was the only significant correlate. Supernatural attributions did not yield any significant associations. Caregivers who endorsed drug-/substance use-related reasons also reported significantly higher stigma than caregivers who did not endorse these attributions. A tendency to endorse biological and psychosocial causes for their relative's illness was noted among caregivers. Further research on caregivers' causal attributions is warranted to account for and replicate current study findings.

Cognitive insight and quality of life among psychiatric outpatients.

BACKGROUND: Past studies have focused primarily on clinical insight and less on cognitive insight among individuals with mental illness. METHODS: This study examined the level of cognitive insight (CI) and its association with quality of life (QoL) among psychiatric outpatients (N = 400) in Singapore. The Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) consisting of two subscales (self-reflectiveness (SR) and self-certainty (SC)) was used to measure CI while the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to assess the subjective well-being of the individual. RESULTS: Socio-demographic correlates of CI, differences in SR, SC, and CI scores across diagnostic groups, and the association between insight and QoL were examined. Significant differences across diagnostic groups were found only for SR scores. Higher SR and overall CI scores were significantly associated with higher QoL in the environmental domain whereas higher SC scores were associated with lower QoL in the social relationships domain. CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of cognitive insight is necessary to produce a significant change in the underlying belief system of an individual. Together with clinical insight, these two forms of insight can be used to inform therapeutic approaches to increase awareness and improve the QoL of those with mental illnesses.

A narrative synthesis of possible causes and risk factors of hoarding behaviours.

BACKGROUND: Hoarding is a disorder characterized by excessive acquisition and persistent difficulty in discarding possessions. The behaviour has adverse emotional, physical, social, financial, and legal outcomes for the person with the disorder and family members, and might pose a significant public health problem. Hoarding has been included as a distinct disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth edition (DSM-5). The prevalence of hoarding disorder is approximately 2-6% globally. The current state of the evidence does not offer clear understanding of the causes of hoarding behaviours. A systematic review of the extant literature was carried out to determine the possible causal factors of hoarding behaviours. METHODS: This review is conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. The following electronic databases: Medline through Ovid, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched for relevant articles published between January 2000 and November 2018. Only articles published in English language were included. Two reviewers independently scrutinized the studies and included them in this review. RESULTS: Our search strategy returned a total of 396 references. Preliminary findings suggest that individuals with hoarding behaviours may have a genetic susceptibility; abnormal neural activity in the fronto-temporal, para-hippocampal gyrus and insular parts of the brain has also been identified. Traumatic life experiences have also been posited to predispose individuals to hoard. CONCLUSION: Although the understanding of hoarding disorder hasgrown in recent years, greater efforts are still needed to clarify the etiology and mechanisms of hoarding disorder as these may help in planning of more holistic interventions to treat the problem.

Motivations to quit smoking and challenges faced during cessation among individuals with first episode psychosis in Singapore.

AIMS: The prevalence of smoking has been noted to be higher among individuals with mental illness, particularly among those with schizophrenia and related psychosis than in the general population. The present paper sought to examine the motivations and challenges to quit smoking among first episode psychosis patients (N = 281) enrolled in the Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) in Singapore. METHODS: Questionnaires were used to collect details on an individual's smoking status, cessation attempts, motivations to quit, and challenges to stop smoking. Using baseline data, multiple linear regressions were conducted to examine the socio-demographic correlates of motivations and challenges of smoking cessation behaviour. RESULTS: Of the study sample, 59.4% reported to have never smoked while 39.9% were currently smoking or had attempted smoking. Health reasons and cost were the most highly endorsed motivations to stop smoking; whereas cravings, stress, and boredom were highly endorsed as challenges to stop smoking. Socio-demographic factors such as age, educational level, and marital status were also found to be associated with the motivations to stop smoking and challenges faced during smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the most highly endorsed motivations and challenges reported among individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP) in an Asian population. Given that the literature examining motivations and challenges to quit smoking has predominantly focused on the general population, results from the current study have implications for the formulation of smoking cessation programmes targeted at individuals with mental illness, particularly those with FEP.

Quality of Life across Mental Disorders in Psychiatric Outpatients.

INTRODUCTION: Literature has shown that individuals with various psychiatric disorders experience a lower quality of life (QoL). However, few have examined QoL across disorders. The current study explored differences in QoL and symptom severity across 4 psychiatric diagnostic groups: anxiety disorders (including obsessive compulsive disorder [OCD]), depressive disorders, schizophrenia, and pathological gambling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data analysed was from a previous study that examined the prevalence of hoarding symptoms among outpatients (n = 500) in a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Singapore. Measures utilised included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction QuestionnaireShort Form (Q-LES-Q-SF). Sociodemographic information and details on type and number of comorbidities were also collected. RESULTS: The depressive disorder group had the highest level of depressive and anxiety symptoms and the lowest QoL whereas; the schizophrenia group had the lowest level of depressive symptoms and the highest QoL. Age and employment status were the only sociodemographic correlates which were significantly associated with QoL. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, only the type of mental disorder was found to have a significant effect in explaining BAI, BDI-II and Q-LES-Q-SF. CONCLUSION: Findings offer insight in terms of the burden associated with the various disorders.

Pathways to care among psychiatric outpatients in a tertiary mental health institution in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Pathways to care studies in Singapore are of high interest given the cultural diversity and various sources of help available for those with mental illnesses, ranging from the more traditional to tertiary-level mental health care services. AIM: The current study aimed to explore the associations of patients' socio-demographic characteristics with pathways to first contact and duration of untreated mental illness. METHOD: A total of 402 participants were recruited through convenience sampling. A pathway to care form was used to gather systematic information about the sources of care utilized by participants before approaching a mental health professional. Data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression and multiple linear regression models to assess the associations. RESULTS: Majority of participants reported primary care (36.0%) as their first point of contact, followed by non-formal sources of help (33.8%), specialist care (21.8%), police/court (4.0%), websites/media (3.3%) and religious/traditional treatment (1.3%). Those belonging to Malay and Indian ethnicity (vs Chinese) were more likely to make first contact with non-formal sources of help than primary care. Those who received a diagnosis of any mood or anxiety disorder (vs schizophrenia and related psychoses) were less likely to make first contact with specialist care or non-formal sources of help than primary care. Those who were separated/divorced/widowed were significantly associated with higher duration of untreated illness compared to those who were single. Participants whose family/relative initiated the first contact were significantly associated with a shorter duration of untreated illness compared to those who initiated first contact on their own. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest the determinants of the pathways to first contact and duration of untreated illness included diagnosis, ethnicity, marital status and family initiating the first contact. The pathways adopted by these participants need to be kept in mind for planning mental health programmes.

Affiliate stigma and its association with quality of life among caregivers of relatives with mental illness in Singapore.

Affiliated stigma often refers to internalized stigma among family members of stigmatized individuals. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between affiliate stigma and quality of life (QOL) among primary caregivers of individuals with mental illness undergoing treatment at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. Three hundred and fifty caregivers were recruited for the study. The World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and Family Stigma Scale (FSS) were administered to the primary caregivers of patients with mental illness. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association of affiliate stigma with QOL. A high proportion of caregivers of individuals with mental illness experience affiliate stigma in Singapore. All four QOL domains were significantly associated with affiliate stigma. These findings entail that it is imperative to improve public's perception of those with mental illness to reduce stigmatization and thus improve caregiver's QOL.

Prevalence of stroke, risk factors, disability and care needs in older adults in Singapore: results from the WiSE study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to establish the prevalence of stroke, and to explore the association between stroke prevalence and sociodemographic and health factors, disability, cognitive functioning and care needs among older adult residents in Singapore. SETTING: Data were drawn from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly study-a cross-sectional epidemiological survey conducted from 2012 to 2013 on older adults living in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were Singapore residents (citizens and permanent residents) 60 years and above who were living in Singapore during the survey period . Older adult residents who were institutionalised were also included in this study. Those who were not living in Singapore or who were not contactable were excluded from the study. The response rate was 65.6 % (2565/3913). A total population sample of 2562 participants completed the survey. Participants comprised 43.6% males and 56.4% females. The sample comprised 39.4% Chinese, 29.1% Malay, 30.1% Indian and 1.4% other ethnicities . PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: History of stroke, along with other health and mental health conditions, disability and cognitive functioning, were determined by self-report. RESULTS: Weighted stroke prevalence was 7.6% among older adults aged 60 and above. At a multivariate level, Malay ethnicity (OR 0.41, p=0.012, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.82), hypertension (OR 4.58, p=0.001, 95% CI 1.84 to 11.40), heart trouble (OR 2.45, p=0.006, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.63), diabetes (OR 2.60, p=0.001, 95% CI 1.49 to 4.53) and dementia (OR 3.57, p=0.002, 95% CI 1.57 to 8.12) were associated with stroke prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Several findings of this study were consistent with previous reports. Given that Singapore's population is ageing rapidly, our findings may indicate the need to review existing support services for stroke survivors and their caregivers. Future research could investigate the association between various sociodemographic and health conditions and stroke prevalence to confirm some of the findings of this study.

A Non-Parametric Item Response Theory Evaluation of the CAGE Instrument Among Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: The validity of the CAGE using item response theory (IRT) has not yet been examined in older adult population. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the CAGE using both non-parametric and parametric IRT models, assess whether there is any differential item functioning (DIF) by age, gender and ethnicity and examine the measurement precision at the cut-off scores. METHODS: We used data from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly study to conduct Mokken scaling analysis (MSA), dichotomous Rasch and 2-parameter logistic IRT models. The measurement precision at the cut-off scores were evaluated using classification accuracy (CA) and classification consistency (CC). RESULTS: The MSA showed the overall scalability H index was 0.459, indicating a medium performing instrument. All items were found to be homogenous, measuring the same construct and able to discriminate well between respondents with high levels of the construct and the ones with lower levels. The item discrimination ranged from 1.07 to 6.73 while the item difficulty ranged from 0.33 to 2.80. Significant DIF was found for 2-item across ethnic group. More than 90% (CC and CA ranged from 92.5% to 94.3%) of the respondents were consistently and accurately classified by the CAGE cut-off scores of 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides new evidence on the validity of the CAGE from the IRT perspective. This study provides valuable information of each item in the assessment of the overall severity of alcohol problem and the precision of the cut-off scores in older adult population.

Prevalence and associative factors of orthostatic hypotension in older adults: Results from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study.

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is commonly reported among older adults and is associated with an increased risk of mortality. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and investigate the possible associations between OH with sociodemographic variables, chronic medical conditions, health service utilisation, dementia and cognitive status among older adults residing in Singapore. METHODS: Data was collected from 2266 participants aged 60 years and older who participated in the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study in 2013. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and data collected includes sociodemographic information, blood pressure measurements, medical history, health services utilisation, and cognitive status. RESULTS: The prevalence of OH among older adults in Singapore was 7.8%. OH was highest in participants aged 85 years and above (OR: 2.33; 1.26-4.30; p=0.007) compared to those aged 75-84 years (OR: 1.76; 1.08-2.85; p=0.023). Participants with hypertension were more likely to have OH (OR: 3.03; 1.56-5.88, p=0.001) than those without hypertension. Those with dementia were also more likely to have OH than those with normal cognitive status (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Older age, hypertension, and dementia were independently associated with OH in the older adult population in Singapore. Interventions such as home safety assessment and preventive measures should be implemented to improve older adult's functional capacity and quality of life to prevent injury.

Psychological status and quality of life among primary caregivers of individuals with mental illness: a hospital based study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the psychological status and quality of life among primary caregivers of individuals suffering from various mental illnesses including early psychosis, chronic schizophrenia, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and dementia. METHODS: A total of 350 primary caregivers with relatives seeking treatment at a tertiary psychiatric hospital were recruited for this study. Socio-demographic data was obtained and the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life instrument was used to assess caregiver's quality of life (QOL). Psychological status among primary caregivers was assessed using the General Anxiety Disorder - 7 item (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 item (PHQ-9) scales. Family Interview Schedule (FIS) was used to assess the impact of caregiving relating to social problems, interpersonal strain among family members, work related problems and financial difficulties as a result of their relative's illness. The socio-demographic and clinical correlates of QOL, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were examined using multiple linear and logistic regression analyses. Associations between QOL domains and psychological status was examined using multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean age of the primary caregivers was 49.7 years (SD = 13.2), ranging from 21 to 82 years, with a preponderance of females (67.6%), aged 50-64 years old (45.7%). Majority were of Chinese ethnicity (57.5%), had secondary level education (43.1%), were married (65.2%), and employed (64.9%). 18.3% of primary caregivers had symptoms of depression (based on PHQ-9 cut-off point of 10 or greater) while 12.7% had symptoms of anxiety (based on GAD-7 cut-off point of 10 or greater). Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses revealed that primary caregivers aged between 35-49 years and 50-64 years, unemployed, living with others, providing care to those diagnosed with dementia and who had higher FIS scores were significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression whilst those who cared for their son/daughter were less likely to be associated with symptoms of depression. Primary caregivers who had lower education, were living with others, were single or divorced/separated, were unemployed and with higher FIS scores were associated with lower QOL domain scores. Those with symptoms of depression were significantly associated with low QOL across all four domains, whilst those with symptoms of anxiety were significantly associated with low QOL in the social relationships domain. CONCLUSION: Psychological status of caregivers in the current study was associated with the various domains of QOL. In particular, caregivers' symptoms of depression were significantly associated with lower QOL across all four domains of QOL whereas symptoms of anxiety were associated with lower scores in the social relationships domain. The study suggests a need to provide caregivers with social support and psycho-education to improve the QOL as well as aid in developing healthy coping strategies.

Prevalence and correlates of sleep problems among elderly Singaporeans.

BACKGROUND: The current study examined the prevalence and correlates of sleep problems among elderly Singaporeans. METHODS: Data were taken from the Well-being of Singapore Elderly study, a cross-sectional, epidemiological survey conducted among Singapore residents aged 60 years and above (n = 2565). Respondents were screened for sleep problems through a series of questions in the Geriatric Mental State examination. Details on sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, cognition, disability, chronic physical conditions, and depression were also collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore significant associations between sleep problems, sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, cognition, disability, chronic physical conditions, and depression. RESULTS: Overall, 13.7% (n = 341) of older adults reported at least one sleep problem. Of those who reported sleep problems, 69.4% experienced sleep interruption at night, 48.9% reported having difficulty falling asleep, 22.3% reported early morning awakening, and 11.4% had all three problems. Elderly with sleep problems were significantly more likely to have a range of chronic physical conditions and depression and were also significantly less likely to be physically active. Older adults with at least one sleep problem reported significantly greater disability compared to those with no sleep problems. CONCLUSION: The high probability of comorbid chronic conditions as well as higher disability among those with sleep problems makes this an important area of research.

Employment status among the Singapore elderly and its correlates.

AIM: It has been hypothesized that working beyond retirement age may have a protective effect on various aspects of well-being in the elderly. This paper aims to examine the relationship between employment status of elderly Singaporeans and indicators of well-being. METHODS: As part of the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly study, data relating to sociodemographics, social networks, medical history, physical activity, cognitive function, and disability were collected from 2534 participants aged 60 years and older. Participants included full-time workers (n = 483), part-time workers (n = 205), the unemployed (n = 32), homemakers (n = 808), and retirees (n = 1006). The data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Likelihood of being employed decreased with age, and employment was higher among men. Paid workers had significantly higher levels of physical activity, more extensive social networks, better cognitive function, less disability, and lower risk of dementia than retirees and homemakers. Paid workers had significantly lower chronic disease burden than retirees and rated their health to be better than retirees and the unemployed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that meaningful employment is associated with better psychological and physiological well-being among the elderly, highlighting the importance of studying likely protective effects of employment and creating employment opportunities for elderly Singaporeans.

Validation of a Latent Construct for Dementia in a Population-Wide Dataset from Singapore.

BACKGROUND: The latent variable δ has been proposed as a proxy for dementia. Previous validation studies have been conducted using convenience samples. It is currently unknown how δ performs in population-wide data. OBJECTIVE: To validate δ in Singapore using population-wide epidemiological study data on persons aged 60 and above. METHODS: δ was constructed using items from the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSI'D) and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS II). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine δ model fit. Convergent validity was examined with the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) and GMS-AGECAT dementia. Divergent validity was examined with GMS-AGECAT depression. RESULTS: The δ model demonstrated fit to the data, χ2(df) = 249.71(55), p < 0.001, CFI = 0.990, TLI = 0.997, RMSEA = 0.037. Latent variable δ was significantly associated with CDR and GMS-AGECAT dementia (range: ß= 0.32 to 0.63), and was not associated with GMS-AGECAT depression. Compared to unadjusted models, δ model fit was poor when adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and education. CONCLUSION: The study found some support for δ as a proxy for dementia in Singapore based on population data. Both convergent and divergent validity were established. In addition, the δ model structure appeared to be influenced by age, gender, ethnicity, and education covariates.

The importance of considering differential item functioning in investigating the impact of chronic conditions on health-related quality of life in a multi-ethnic Asian population.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to examine the impact of chronic conditions after adjusting for differential item functioning (DIF) on the various aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a multi-ethnic Asian population in Singapore. METHOD: Data on 3006 participants from a nation-wide cross-sectional survey of mental health literacy conducted in Singapore were used. Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes model was used to investigate the effects of chronic medical conditions on various HRQoL dimensions assessed with the 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) after adjusting for DIF. RESULTS: Twenty out of 36 items were detected with DIF for chronic conditions including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancer, neurological disorders and ulcer as well as for a few demographic factors such age, gender and marital status. Twenty significant associations between chronic conditions and SF-36 domains were observed. After controlling for all chronic conditions, socio-demographic and DIF items, a significant association emerged between cardiovascular disorders and physical functioning, while the association between diabetes and ulcer and general health became nonsignificant. All other associations remained statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide useful information and important implications of DIF on the impact of chronic conditions on HRQoL. We found the impact of DIF with respect to the impact of chronic conditions on HRQoL to be minimal after accounting for measurement bias in this multiracial Asian population.

Prevalence, correlates, comorbidity and severity of generalized anxiety disorder in Singapore.

Despite its pervasiveness and associated impairment, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) remains a poorly recognized disorder. Furthermore, given that GAD has been relatively understudied in Asia, the current study examined the prevalence, correlates and co-morbid conditions of this disorder in a multi-ethnic population of Singapore. Data was utilized from the Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS), a cross-sectional epidemiological survey conducted among the adult population (n=6616) aged 18 years and above. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (CIDI v3.0) was used to assess co-morbidity as well as the life-time and 12-month prevalence of disorders. Functional impairment and treatment-seeking behavior were also assessed. The life-time (0.9%) and 12-month (0.4%) prevalence estimates in the current study were found to be lower than those reported in Western populations but comparable to the prevalence estimates found in Asian countries. The relatively lower prevalence rate of GAD in this study suggests the possible role of culture in reporting and manifestation of anxiety symptomatology. The failure of a substantial proportion of individuals to seek treatment despite self-reported impairment was also identified as an area of concern.

Attitudes to Mental Illness and Its Demographic Correlates among General Population in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Public attitudes to mental illness could influence how the public interact with, provide opportunities for, and help people with mental illness. AIMS: This study aims to explore the underlying factors of the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire among the general population in Singapore and the socio-demographic correlates of each factor. METHODS: From March 2014 to April 2015, a nation-wide cross-sectional survey on mental health literacy with 3,006 participants was conducted in Singapore. RESULTS: Factor analysis revealed a 4-factor structure for the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire among the Singapore general population, namely social distancing, tolerance/support for community care, social restrictiveness, and prejudice and misconception. Older age, male gender, lower education and socio-economic status were associated with more negative attitudes towards the mentally ill. Chinese showed more negative attitudes than Indians and Malays (except for prejudice and misconception). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for culture-specific interventions, and the associated factors identified in this study should be considered for future attitude campaigns.

Screening for Drinking Problems in the Elderly in Singapore Using the CAGE Questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: Given that past research on drinking problems has focused primarily on younger samples, the present study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among the elderly in Singapore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study, a cross-sectional, epidemiological survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of Singapore residents (n = 2565) aged 60 years and above. Variables assessed include drinking problems, depression and anxiety symptoms, obesity, smoking status, chronic physical disorders and disability. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of drinking problems (CAGE score ≥2) in our sample was 4.2%. Male sex, Indian ethnicity, and being divorced or separated were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of drinking problems. Participants with drinking problems were also more likely to have subthreshold depression. There were no significant differences in disability among those with drinking problems, those without drinking problems and non-drinkers, after adjusting for demographic variables. CONCLUSION: Our findings contribute to the body of research that indicates an association between drinking problems and depressive symptoms among the elderly. Thus, screening for depressive symptoms in the elderly with drinking problems may be useful in identifying such comorbidities in order to aid treatment planning.